Thursday, January 23, 2014
Staff report
SALEM
The jukebox musical “Life Could Be a Dream” opens Friday at Salem Community Theatre and will run for two consecutive weekends.
With a title derived from the doo-wop song “Sha-Boom,” the musical takes place in 1960 and tells the story of Denny Varney, an aspiring, jobless singer who coerces his nerdy best friend and fellow high school chorister, Eugene, into joining him in the quest to win a singing contest sponsored by a local radio station.
Adding a third friend, Wally, to the group becomes necessary, and then finally a fourth member who works as a mechanic for their new-found sponsor, Big Stuff Auto. Complicating matters is the guiding influence of Lois, the sponsor’s daughter.
“Life Could Be a Dream” includes many hits of the late 1950s, including “The Wanderer,” “Pretty Little Angle Eyes,” “Duke of Earl,” “Runaround Sue” and “Tears on my Pillow.”
The cast includes Anthony Ventura, Christopher Hager, Donny Wolford, Jaime Stabile and Niki Slavin.
Mark Frost and Cheryl Kekel are the directors, Gary Kekel is music director, and choreographer is Carrie Mazzucco.
Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. through Feb. 2. Tickets are $14 ($10 for seniors and $8 for students). For reservations, call 330-332-9688. The theater is at 490 E. State St.